Platen for type-writing machines.



0a s. ANBERSON.

PLATEN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, mos

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Gauge lfaflzderrroia G. S. ANDERSON.

PLATEN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1908. 1,062,428. Patented May 20, 1913.

5 SHEBTS SHEET 2 Czwyef 16 71 G. S. ANDERSON. PLATEN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 20, 1908. 1 ,062,428. Patented May 20, 1913.

5 SHEETS'-SHEET 3 G. S. ANDERSON.

PLATEN FOB. TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1908.

Patented May 20, 1913 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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G. S. ANDERSON. PLATEN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

6 BKEBTSSHEBT 5v Patented May 20, 1913.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 20,1908.

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UNITED STATIiliIfIIiENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. ANDERSON, 0F HARRISBURG, IENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ELLIOTT- FISHER COMPANY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION-$2.715

DELAWARE.

PLATEN FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 191;?-

platen for letter and line spacing.

The primary object of the invention is to so construct and equip a fiat platen that the widest possible variation will be permitted in the character of work to be done.

Other and subordinate objects will appear as the succeeding description is developed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a laten constructed in accordance with my invention, certain of the parts being broken away to facilitate the illustration and the carbon and work sheets being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same subject-matter inverted. Fig. 3 is a lon itudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. ig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isa longitudinal section similar to Fig. 3 but showing the workholding frame elevated by the typewriting machine, which is diagrammatically illustrated. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rlaten with the work frame elevated. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the structure designed more particularly to show the mounting of the carbon roll. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the front end portion of the structure. Fig.

9 is a detail perspective view of one end of the rear carbon carrier. Fig. 10 is a detail section partly in elevation, showing the man nor of attaching the thumb wheel to the carbon carrier or spindle. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the work-holding frame detached. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the structure designed more particularly to show the arrangement of the tensioning devices of the tapes and the work clamping frame. Fig.

13 is a transverse section on the line L 8' of Fig. 12, showing the yielding relation between the upper-and lower sections of the work holdingframe. Fig. 14 isa detailview of the pivotal mounting of the work holding frame in the platen frame.

In the drawings each part wherever shown indicated by its proper reference character.

1 indicates a platen frame comprising side plates 2 and front and rear end plates 3 and 4 connecting the side plates rigidly in parallel relation. The platen frame is provided with rubber or other suitable cushioning feet 5 preferably set into the bottom. of the side plates 2, as shown in Fig. (5, and designed to avoid marring the surface of the desk or other support upon which the platen is used. Any suitable number of feet 5 may be provided, and in the drawings I have shown a foot at each corner of the frame and an extra pair set back somewhat from the front end of the platen in order to allow the front edge of the platen to project beyond the edge of the table or desk if desired.

The upper edges of the side plates 2 of the frame 1 are rounded and serve as tracks or guides 6 upon which the typewriting machine shown in Fig. 5 travels longitudinally to letter space the writing, the tracks ti be ing toothed, as indicated at S, to engage the line space pinions't) of the typewriter. The side plates 2 of the frame 1 are provided in their inner-side faces adjacent to their upper edges with longitudinal grooves 10 for the reception of the otl'set edges of the platen proper 11. The platen 11 is square to enable the same to be withdrawn from the grooves 10 and then reinserted after having been given a quarter or half turn. This enables four different points of the platen to be presented at the point of greatest use. In other words, when the writing surface of the platen has been somewhat worn, the platen may be removed and then inserted in position to present another portion thereof at the point whichrecei'ves the greatest wear,

socket 12, see Fig. 1, engaged by a spring catch 13, one of which is carried by each of the side plates 2.

.- The layer 11 is of slightly less dimensions than the plate 11 so that the projecting edge 'of the latter constitutes a marginal flange 11? adapted to be received in the grooves 10. If desired, a layer 11 maybe imposed upon both sides of the plate 11 in order to provide for-the reversal of the platen. The platen thus constructed and mounted is equipped with a number of devices which facilitate the handling of various kinds of work sheets" or elements and thus make it possible to employ a single platen for all kinds of work ordinarily required of a machine of this character, as for; ,instance single sheet or manifold billing, card and letter writing, folded form billing, etc. These various work-holding devices are mounted in an able as a unit relative to the platen to facilitate the displacement, replacement and adjustment of the work elements and the various devices are susceptible of relative adjustment so that the work-holding unit may be adapted for the particular class of work in hand.

The work-holding frame is designated as a whole by 14. As best shown in Fig. 11, this frame comprises a pair of rigid side members 15 havin angularfront ends 16 rigidly connected y a transverse bar 17. Th frame 14 ,is pivotally mounted in the pl ften frame 1 2'tt.=;a point in rear of and in plane"belowlftliat of the platen proper. The specific chanacfter of this pivotal mount-- ing of the "work-holding frame may be varied, but is preferably effected by means of headed stub shafts 18 passed through the side plates 2 from the outside and through the, side bars 15 of the work holding frame, nuts 19 being screwed upon the inner ends of the shafts 18 to retain the same in proper position.

Disposed over the platen and secured at their front ends to the extremities of the bar 17 are two longitudinal work-holding members 20 which lie closely adjacent to the inner sides of the machine tracks or guides andmay be employed to clamp certain forms of work elements or sheets upon the writing surface of the platen. These longitudinal members or bars 20 are connected adjacent to their rear ends by a transverse bar 21 located beyond but adjacent to the rear edge of the platen and disposed in a plane slightly below the writing surface thereof. The connection of the members 20 by the bar 21 unites the former in a single work-holding organization which is mov-I unit, which, by reason of the slight resiliency or flexibility of the bars 20 is adapted to yield relative to the frame 14, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13, for the purpose of accommodating sheets of varying thickness or different numbers of sheets when the device being used for manifoldmg.

The bar 21 lics loosely upon the upper' edges of the arms 15, as shown in Figs. 11

and 12, and is normally held depressed by suitable tension mechanism which supplements the resiliency of the memb rs 20 to insure the secure clamping of. the work sheets by the latter. nism may be of any desired form, but preferably includes a pair of spiral springs 92- each of which is connected to one end of the bar 21 and to a subjacent screw 23 projecting from the adjacent bar 15. The springs22 constantly tend to draw the bar 21 down upon the upper edge of the frame 14 and thus serve to draw the longitudinal members 20 .close against the writing sur face of the platen. A distinct advantage of two tension devices located'at opposite ends of the bar 21 is that both members 20 will be drawn close against the work sheets imposed upon the platen, even if a greater number of sheets is clamped by one of the members than by the other. In other words, while the two longitudinal members 20 may yield as a unit by reason of their connection by the bar 21, they are also capable of slight independent movement vertically.

In addition to the two longitudinal workholding members 20 the platen equipment includes a pair 'of' transversely disposed work-holding or guarding members 24.

These members are in the form of flat metal plates having their opposite ends received within grooves or guideways 2:) formed in the inner edges of the longitudinal members 20. The transverse "members 24 are designed to hold or guard the top and bottom edges of the work sheet and are independently adjustable longitudinally of the platen. These members may either holdthe s merely serve to guard the edges thereof from contacting with a part of the traveling machine structure. They are also,particularly useful for the retention of cards or similar work elements of small size. The grooves 25 in the members 20 are open-ended so that the transverse members 24 may be.

entirely withdrawn when their use is not desired. I

In addition to the longitudinal and transverse work-holding members described, the platen is equipped with instrumentalities adapted to facilitate What is known as continuous billing, or billing in which folded forms are employed. To this endthg bar 17 is provided with a pair of clips 26 to which are connected the front ends of a pair This tension mocha-- eet or flexible tapes 27 of metal or other suitable material, connected at their rear ends to simil'ar -clips 28 mounted on a transverse bar 29 similar to the bar 17, but located beyond the rear end of the platen proper and resting loosely upon the upper edge of the side arms 15 of the main frame.

The opposite ends of the bar 29 are connected to slotted brackets 30 guided by headed screws 31 which engage the slots in said brackets and are screwed into the arms 15. This character of mounting for the bar 29 allows said bar to have more or less movement transversely for the purpose of taking up the slack in the tapes 27 and holding the same perfectly taut. The tapes 27 may be inherently elastic, but, as before stated, they are preferably thin ribbons of metal that are subjected to tension by tension mechanism which may be in the form of spiral springs 32 secured at their front ends to the brackets 30 and at their rear ends to screws 33 screwed into the arin 15. The springs 32 exert a backward pull upon the brackets 30 and the bar 29 and thus hold the tapes 27 taut, but, allow the latter to yield more or less to facilitate. the handling of the work. The tapes 27 are useful in connection with various classes of work, but are particularly designed to fa cilitate form billing, the right hand tape being received within the fold or bight of the folded form, and the two tapes constituting marginal supports for a carbon web 34 extending between carriers located beyond the front and rear ends respectively of the platen proper. The clips 26 and 28 to which the opposite ents of the tapes 27 are connected are adjustaile along the bars 29 in order to separate the tapes by any de sired interval, and the bars 17 and 29 are provided with scales or graduations 35 to facilitate transverse adjustment of the tapes. Attention is directed. to the fact, see Figs. 8 and 12 that the upper surfaces of the bars 17 and 29 are dropped slightly below the plane of the writing surface so that normally the tapes lie close upon the platen and have a. slight downward inclination from the edges of the platen to the tape retaining clips.

As has been stated the carbon or other transfer web 34 extends between carriers located beyond the opposite ends of the platen n-oper. The rear carrier is in the form of a spindle 36 mounted in the frame 15 in rear of the pivotal mounting thereof and supporting a carbon roll 34 from the.

under side of which the web 34 is led over a guide roller 37 and thence over the platen to the front carrier or carbon'retaining de vice see Figs. 8 and 12. The guide roll 37 is journaled in the side bars 15 of the frame 14 and said frame at a point just in rear of its pivotal mountings is provided with drop bearings 39 which receive the reduced end portions 40 of the spindle 36 the right hand end of the spindle beino extended through a side plate 2 of the platen frame and provided with a thumb Wheel 41 by means of which the spindle may be rotated.

The spindle is retained in the open drop bearings by bearing clips 41 and 42 arranged in pairs, see Figs. 7 and 12. The clips 42 are pivotally connected at their lower ends, as indicated at 43, to the inner side of one of the drop bearings 39 and are yieldingly drawn toward each other by a spring 44 connected at its opposite ends to the respective clips. The opposed faces of the clips 42 are formed with recesses orsockets 45 and above these recesses the ends of the clips are flared. Thus the spindle may he dropped into the bearing 39 by the application of suflicient pressure to spread the clips 42 apart against the resistance of the spring 44, the spindle being securely but, removably retained in the hearing by the clips. The clips 41 are functionally similar to the clips 42 and said clips 42 may be duplicated if desired. It Wlll be seen in Fig. 7 of accompanying drawings, however, that the second pair of bearing clips 41 are of substantially right angular form, being pivotally mounted at their angles, as indicated at 46, to the adjacent drop bearing and having their upper recessed ends 47 urged into engagement with the spindle by separate springs 48 secured at their lower ends to the clips and at their upper ends to the frame 14. It will thus be seen that the rear carbon carrier is mounted in the swinging frame structure 14 just in rear of the axis of movement thereof and that said carrier while free to rotate, is re tained against accidental displacement by spring urged bearing clips which yield sufficiently to permit the insertion of the spindle in or its removal from the drop bearings of the swinging frame. It. will of. course be understood that the right hand side plate 2 of the platen frame is slotted to accommodate the movement of the spindle 36 as the frame 14 is swung. If desired, the rear carbon carrier may be in the form of a spool, a construction of this character being produced in the present instance by crinu'iing ledge 49, with which coacts a combined carbon clan'ipin cr mping and cutting' member 50 in the form of a metal plate extending lengthwise of the bar 38 and having its front edge curved to conform approximately to the curvature of the reduced portion of the bar. This plate or member 50 is provided with a longitudinal slot 51 through which the. carbon is led and at its rear edge depend two arms 52 fulcrumed upon the side arms 15 at 52") and connected at their lower ends to spiral springs 54 which constantly urge the member 50 into clamping contact, with the bar 38.

The plate 50 is provided at one end with a handle or linger piece 53 by means of which the plate may be swung against the resistance of the s rings ll to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9. ln this position of the plate the front end of the carbon may be passed through the slot Iil and then e between the members 238 and 50. If now. the plate 50 is released. the springs 54 cause it to clamp the carbon securely against the bar 38, the coaction of the front edge of the clamp 30 and the ledge 49 of the bar 38 serving to crimp the carbon in a manner to insure its retcntiom Further more, the front edge of the plate 50 may serve as a cutter tor the carbon as it is ob Vious that when that portion of the carbon weh lying opposite the platen becomes worn, the plate 30 may be, thrown up and the carbon web drawn forward until the worn portion is located in advance of the clamp 50. The latter may then be released to again clamp the carbon and the used por tion of the latter may be torn off by the use of the front edge of the cutter 50 as a stra ght edge or shearing blade.

It has been premised that the entire platen equipment which has been described in detail is organized in a swinging structure and it has been stated that this structure swings from the stub shafts 19 located in a plane below and at a point in rear of the platen proper. in certain aspects of the invention it is immaterial how the swinging of this structure is accomplished. in the present instance, however, it is contemplated to extend the side arms 15 of the frame 14 in an upward and rearward direction from the drop bearings 39 to form what may be termed cam arms 56 located ad'aeent to opposite sides of the platen frame at the rear end thereof, see Fig. l. and projecting upwardly into the path of one of the frame bars 7 of the typewriting machine 7. By means of this arrangement the typewriting machine when moved back beyond the printing area will depress the cain arms 56 and thus automatically etfect the elevation of the work-holding frame, as shown in Fig. 6. (Also compare Figs. 3 and 5). This movement of the frame l l l i i l l l l causes the longitudinal and work-holding, guiding and guarding members to be raised clear of the platen and also elevates that portion of the carbon web which lies opposite the printing area, thus facilitating the removal. adju tment or relacement of the work sheets in use. It will he noted in this connection that this swinging of the worleholdin; frame re sults in no slacking or distortion of the carbon element. lllt( the opposite edges of the latter are supported by the tapes 27. It; will furthermore be noted that notwithstanding that relation of the parts which causes the tapes to lie flat against the plates when in use. v aid tapes will be carried entirely away from the writing surface in a manner to leave the latter entirely free and clear of obstruction when the work-holding frame is elevated.

.\t the rear ends of the cam arm 56 are located machine stops 56 which Contact with the frame of the type-writing machine and arrest the latter when it has been moved rearwardly to its proper position over the machine support. in order to protect the carbon roll and lend finish to the platen, a cover-plate ST is hinged at its rear edge upon the end bar lthrough the medium of a bar at and brackets 00, it being noted that the bar 5) and the rear end of the plate are spaced from the plates 3 to provide clearance for the cam arm 56. The front edge of the cover-plate is stitl'ened by a bar and re ts upon the side bars of the workholding frame.

If desired, the carbon web may be held under tension by means of tension mechanism, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and G. The rear end of the carbon is wound upon a sleeve 4 which extends between the spool flanges 3G and 3G", being coupled to the latter by a. notch and pin connection 0, as shown in Fig. 1. To the spindle 36 at a point outside of the platen frame and preferably adjacent to the thumb wheel 41, is secured a ratchet wheel c arranged to be engaged by a gravity pawl (I above the free end of which is located a yielding stop e. As the sleeve a is loose on the spindle, it will be seen that by rotating, said spindle in the proper direction the spring 36 may be wound sutiiciently to place the desired tension on the carbon, the spindle being held to maintain the tension by the pawl (I which may be moved out of engagement with the ratchetto deer use or entirely eliminate the tension if desired. Should the pawl (I be left in an elevated position, a projection f thereon will extend above the adjacent rail so as to be engaged and moved down by the frame of the typewriter. \Yhen it is desired to draw the carbon forward in order to displace a used portion thereof, it is merely necessary to move the flange 36 laterally out of engagement with the sleeve a,

transverse too the carriers, a transverse work guard dis posed over the platen and adjustable l0ngitudinallv thereof, and means carried by the supporting frame for supporting and guiding said work giiiard.

7. The combination with a platen frame, provided with grooves. of a. platen having thus entirely releasing the carbon roll from the spindle and allowing the carbon to be drawn forward, after which the tlange is allowed to reengago the sleeve and the car bon is again placed under tension.

It is thought that from the foregoing, the construction, operation and advantages of my platen witl be apparent, but I wish to he understood as reserving the right. to etlf'e t. platen retaining catches. such changes, modifications and variations 8. A rarhon clamp of the character deof the illustrated structure as may come. scribed, eomprising a longitudii'lally shoulfairly withinthe scope of the protection dcredmember.apivotallymountedclamping prayed. plate mom-rating with said member and 'What I claim isz-- provided with a slot through which the car- 1.. The combination with a statirmary hon may be threaded. and a spring acting to laten and a traveling machine, of a swingnrge the clamp to its engaging position. mg frame, work-holding means carried by 9. The combination with a platen, of a the frame, a carbon carrier also mounted on spindle, a sleeve mounted thereon and conthe frame, and means for causing the frame stituting a carbon carrier, a spring tending to be swung by the machine to elevate the to rotate the sleeve on the spindle, and pawl work-holding means from the platen. and ratchet mechanism enacting with the E2. The combination with a. platen frame spindle. to regulate the tension of the spring. and platen, of a worh holdiag frame mount- ]0. The combination with a platen, of a ed to swing in the platen frame. worlehahh vml-i holding structure. including a. suping means carried by the frame, carbon ca. porting frame and a pair of work holding riers mounted on the v ork-hohling traam mtnlber.-- tlHposed longitudinally of the beyond opposite ends of the platen. a. c m platen and secured at one end to the frame arm extended at one end of the Worlwhoi .ui; and haunt; their hposite ends yieldablc frame, and a niachuse mounted to tra el on relative to the frame. the platen trai'nc and arranged to engage the ll. The combination with a platen frame cam arm. 3. The cimibination with a tlat platen, fl tracks or guides, and a traveling machine. ot' 1 a swinging \vorh-lnilding; frame nu.-v.d lc tho work holding frame and yieldable dependently ot the tIfa :I e l tire thereto to accommodate ditterent includii'ig huh-pewteutly ad' stable worntthnrkn 'hereto. and work holding members carried cs of paper ii'iterposed between the Work holding members and the platen, and tension mechanism acting to draw the work holding members toward the platen.

ii. The -.-o'.nhination with a platen frame and platen. of a supporting frame movably mounted in the platen frame and extended holmv the platen, and work holding members erttcnihal over the platen and supported at h nt by the supporting frame, said wvrlz, holding members being yieldahle relaa upporting framev to accommorent thicknesses of paper interthe work holding members holding or gnawing member 1 disposed ion- 1 git-udinallv and trarsvcrs. of the p ston: respectively, and mean-5 tor L:l,1$:-jill3j ilv' one chine, when nim'ed hank hevtmd area, to autoina. hath. s 'ing the ing frame 4. The coznhiuati n with VV()ll--i'1tilt.tl i. ing frame, in hers the suppoi. ends yieldahic an" 5. The ooniixinatio tionary ti'ttClH. or chine, a worh in swinging su p: 111g (11 321111 frame and 31L coniniwtazev i 6. he "not: swinging on ing a sup. mount-d n e cat d taxywut carbon o of the m.ie2 amt the r wh t in 'u eit' H11 poi-r :11; 21 i w th a plot H nbination with a platen, of or guides for a traveling J bars loeatcd ends of the. platen. tapes i re l ati veljv iv, a pair of tongitudi- I nuzn'siwrs extended bet. vertically movable indetracks or guides. a transc1 taunt-er adjustable .iit nliual members and vertiwith, and tension mecha;

and

the l W E A (j with one of the transveii e over the platen and oar o 1d the. apes taut.

., A 1/ opposite edges of a. carton web it. how/em the combination with a plat/en and its edges received within said grooves, and

sinfinnniy minim or guides for :1 trawling nun-him. uf n vmrli-huiiling" ii'mne movable indc 'ir-ndvntiv Hf the trunks ()1' glli\ii and having \Ymivimlding kin-1111mm (iiSlHbPJi Twin-all inihn inmiuni y of 0:1(1'1 miller and of the n'm'ivimlding i'v'nmn in :MWHHI'I'HM12111) ":n'infium, in the thir-knnss of the mport 13, Tinvmnhinnlirm with :1 plain]; and

mounted to swing relative to the platen on an axisdisposed transverse to said platen, wnyivimliling members disposedover the pininn and each secured at one end to the w inging 'fnnne and having its opposite end limitiuill mnmblc reiatii e to the frame tnvks m uid-m i'm n ii'siwiing machine, of l :1 pair of Inngihniimi \vnik-lmhling mom-- burs extended on: the platen bmwvvn the tracks (il guiii s, and Hl'ml'iliQ tnnninn d0- vives counting: with U10 rczn' nnds 0! said work-holding inemiinin.

16. The Combinalinn with :1 plaien and trmks 0r guides, of a supporting frame whereby the angular motion of the swinging Emmi: will not; interfere with the proper l'msliwnllig (if the \YOl'iQhOidlIlg members npnn paper of varying thickness.

In ififjilll'lfiny whereof I afiix my signature an IH'XSOIH'Q 01' two witnesses.

GEORGE ANDERSON.

itnesses:

H. L. Monmssm", H. S ZERBE. 

